Burt Block Party feat. Collective Soul, 54-40

On August 16, 2026, the Burt Block Party lines up a solid rock pairing at Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg, with Collective Soul and 54-40 headlining the night.

Formed near Atlanta in 1992, Collective Soul built a sound at the crossroads of alternative rock, post‑grunge and pop melody, driven by Ed Roland’s songwriting and vocals and the guitars of his brother Dean Roland. The band first broke through with Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid in 1994, then cemented its identity with the self‑titled album in 1995. Since then, records like Dosage, Youth, See What You Started by Continuing, Blood and Vibrating have kept their guitar‑forward, chorus‑driven style in focus. Around the core of Ed and Dean Roland with longtime bassist Will Turpin, joined by Jesse Triplett and Johnny Rabb, the group sticks to a classic rock‑band format and a catalogue that spans three decades.

From Vancouver, 54-40 formed in 1980 around Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt. Starting in a post‑punk and new wave vein, the band gradually leaned into melodic alternative rock with clear guitars and direct hooks, sometimes tinted with folk and roots influences. Early releases like Set the Fire, then 54-40 and Show Me opened the way to a run that includes Dear Dear, Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret and Casual Viewin’. With guitarist and keyboardist Dave Genn in the fold since the mid‑2000s, 54-40 continues to balance reflective songwriting with an unfussy, contemporary rock tone.